A term applied to an indoor environment that causes occupants to become ill. The syndrome is usually associated with indoor air pollutants.

Indoor air is a health hazard in 30 percent of all buildings, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists IAQ fourth among top environmental health threats. The problem of SBS is of increasing concern to employees and occupational health specialists, as well as landlords and corporations who fear the financial consequences of illnesses among tenants and employees. Respiratory diseases attributed to SBS account for about 150 million lost work days each year, $59 billion in indirect costs, and $15 billion in medical costs.

Common complaints of SBS include headaches, fatigue, cough, sneezing, nausea, difficulty concentrating, bleary eyes, and nose and throat irritations. Symptoms are caused by a range of contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are chemicals that turn to gas at room temperature and are given off by paints, adhesives, caulking, vinyl, telephone cable, printed documents, furniture, and chemical solvents.

Biological agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, algae, pollen, mold, and dust mites add to the problems. These are produced by water-damaged carpet and furnishing or standing water in ventilation systems, humidifiers

Cleaning chemicals are often one of the culprits. By utilizing vapor steam cleaning in your daily cleaning processes, you will eliminate the harmful fumes from cleaning chemicals.